Delivery receptacle and locking means



Nov. 26, 1940 J. MAJORS 2,223,150

DELIVERY RECEPTACLE AND LOCKING MEANS Filed July 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i L /6 2a 20 28 44 v 2a JOHN MAJORS R/N l/EN 70/? Nov. 26, 1940. J MAJQRS 2,223,150

DELIVERY RECEPTACLE AND LOCKING MEANS Filed July 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet T.

o 7 86 50 o o 96 4 76 94 O 88 aa C(GED o FIG. 9

' JOHN MAJORS //vv/vro/? PEA A T'TORNE Y Patented Nov. 26, 1940 DELIVERY RECEPTAOLE AND LOCKING MEAN S I John Majors, Muskegon, Mich. Application July 5, 1938, Serial No. 217,342

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved delivery receptacle and locking means, and the present application for patent shows and describes an improvement over my prior Patent No. 2,034,916

dated March 24, 1936.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a delivery receptacle with an improved locking means whereby the outer doors of said receptacle can be opened only at the will of the operator or at least under the control of the operator of the inner door.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a safety delivery receptacle such as for milk and the like whereby the inner door is normally in a closed position, thereby preventing anyone opening the outer do0r,even an authorized person, from getting any access to the interior of the building in which the receptacle is placed or even I obtaining a view of the interior of such building or room.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a delivery receptacle and locking means for use with various commodities, particularly milk in bottles, groceries, and other products which may accordingly be delivered to a dwelling without in any way disturbing the occupants and also in such a manner that the delivered products will be secure against theft and protected from the elements.

Another and still further important object of the invention is to provide a delivery receptacle for milk or the like which is provided with a looking means such that the receptacle can be readily opened from the outside for the deposit of bottled milk or some other commodity, but which will be automatically locked from the outside after the closing of the outer door, thereby preventing any further access to the interior by unauthorized persons from the outside while, at the same time, readily permitting entrance from the inside door, and the convenient and ready withdrawal of the deposited commodities.

A still further object is to provide a simple yet eflicient and sturdy type of lock which will auto- 4'5 matically permit the alternate locking and unlocking of the outer door depending upon the operation of the inner door.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is shown in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

65"" In the drawings:

(01. 2321) H v Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved delivery receptacle and locking meanso'f this invention, the locking means beinggshown 'inclosed in a case and both doors being shown 7 as closed with the outer door locked. l 5 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figur Lbut-show ing the outer door open. 1

Figure 3 is a front view of 'the, special extra latching means developed for the latch of the outer door.

Figure 4 is an end view of the locking means, looking at the same from the outer side. I

Figure 5 is a detail view, showing'the interior of the lock construction and the cooperation of the-parts thereof with the latching means' of the 15 outer door which is shown in closed position, but

not locked.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure" 5, showing the operation of the bar operated" by the inner door in dotted lines andalso showing the 20 outer door in locked position. I I

Figure 7 is a detail view, parts being brokenaway, showing a slightly modified form of them vention.

Figure 8 is an inside view of thestructure of 25 Figure '7. r

Figure 9 is a detail view showing the apparatus of Figure 8 in a different position. Figure 10 shows another position of the: ap-

paratus of Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 is a detail showing the co-operating holes in the sliding plate and casing for passage therethrough of the detent.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral l0 indicates generally 5 the side walls of the improved delivery recepta cle of this invention, the same generally corriprising the casing of substantially rectangular formbuilt into a wall l2 and in such a manner that the casing provides a passageway through the '0 wall.

The receptacle I0 is provided with an outer door [4 having a handle 61 and being hinged at I6 to the casing l0 and an inner door l8 likewise hinged as at 20.

4t- Mounted upon the inner face of one wall l0 of the receptacle itself is the improved'locking element of this invention, the same comprising generally a casing 22 having positioned therein a spring-pressed detent 24, which detent has a plate 30 normally maintained in forward posi- OFFICE 3 tion by means of a helical spring 32 as best shown in Figures and 6.

Pivotally mounted at 34 on the keeper plate 28 is a latch-operating element 36 which is j 5 adapted to be held in vertical position with one end normally down by means of a coil spring 381(Figure 1).

When the outer door i4 is being closed, as best shown in Figure 2 the pivoting latch element or I plate 36',c intacts,the outer end of the plate'30 and pu'shesit into the casing as the tension of the spring 38 is greater than the tension of the spring 32 attached to the plate 30, whereuponthe pin'33 travels along theelongated slot .35.

115 This pivoting latch element or plate 36 then strikes the upper part of the casing, 22 and the wardly through the now aligned hole 31in the plate.- this-being on account of the: tension of the spr g 4fli attached tothe detent 26,. This 1 upward inevem-entof the detent 26 allows the end '25 of same to e n naepe n in keeper 8-Whi9hi$ i edii i equ r door, th by securely locking the outer door in closed position. Th is, o-ffcoursel-occurs after a deposit of some,connnodities-intolthe receptacle l0.

33} The inner door H3 is never locked against opening inasmuchas, this is on the inside of'the welling, but the, same can be latched. inclosed, position by means. of an ordinary latch 42 an referably is maintained in closed position .bymeans ofspring hinges 44.

,,W hen--the inner door l-8 is. opened, a rod 46 hich has been normally pushing against the inner face of the inner; door as shown in Figure 2. is immediately retracted into the position 0, shown-in-the dotted lines-in Figure 6 by action 7 of the helical spring 48-, and this retracting of thejrod 42;.enables its cam medz nose- 50 to move rearyva-rdly v past; a pivoted" corresponding-f bar having: a cam surface 52 as best shown in Fig- Thisrearward motion eammed end 50;wil-lr have no effect on. the position of the; detent 2t,- and the outer doorv 14 will still remain .locked thereby preventing-ace 50 cess by anyone into the interior of Y the compare ment-while the housewife or other person-is removingmaterials; from the compartment.

7 However, upon closing; the inner door '18, the.

rod 46 is immediately, returned to-its full line 56-: position as shown inzvFigi-ire 5,0,n account of the pushing; action of the, inner face ofthe inner door there-against. L'Thisaction allows the cam 59 tomove over the-upper; end of f the bar; having a cam surface 60, fiiipushing: the-same downwardly into the position shownin dotted lines in Figure 6, it being, understood that thedetent 2B is bent rearwardly intoiacontinuing part: 56 as: shown and that the barzhavingacamsurface 52 is pivotallymount- 65, ed on the inner end of the continuation 56,, of 5 f the deten-tZG. The detent element 26- -56 and the, bar havingaucain surface 52 are held. in positionby means, of \a fretaihing plate 58 as shown in Figures ,4, '5 and 6, and a coil spring, ti] re-; 70;; tains the bar having a cam surface 52 in positiomaregardless of theyaction of the cam 58. Figure5, shows the outer door: in unlocked positi'om '-t: f

the modified-form of the'invention illusstr ated ,im-Figures ,7V to 10 inclusive, the outer of the rod 46 and itsdoor 64 is provided simply with a pull handle 66, there being no looking or latching means asso ciated with this handle, and the inner door 68 is provided with a simple latching element 10 operated by a handle 12. 5 Fastened upon the inner face of the outer door 64 is a catch 14 shaped, as shown, to contact with the upper end of the detent element 26 when this element is in its raised position as shown in Figures 9 and. 10'. This detent elel0 ment is held in position in the lock casing 76 by means of a plate '18, and instead of the spring 4 1lof Figures 1 to 6, a helical spring 80 is pro- .vided which is behind the plate i8 and normally acts to impel the detent element 26 into raised position. Instead of the latching element 36 of Figures 1 to 6, a somewhat similar latching elementin the. formof a tumbler 82 is provided pivotally mounted on the locking lug 14 and normally impelled into the position of Figure 10 by vmeans of the spring 84. The curved lower face of this element 82 rides over an upwardly curved extension 8t of the lock casing 15, andthisH-upwardly curved extension is so shaped that the door 64 is normally held closed by means of the contact between the lower curved face of the element 82 and this extension 86 as best shown in Figures 8 and 9. A sufficientpull on the knob 66. will, however, release the door 64.,

The spring 84 is of such tension that a closing; movement of the door, no matter how fast, will still allow the tumbler element 82 to contact. the outer end of the slide 30 and push it into. retracted position as shown in Figures 9 and 10, 7 thereby allowing the upper end of' the detent 2(iv to pass through the hole in the slide 30 and assume the position shown in Figures 9 and 10. whereby when the door 64 is closed, it will immediately become looked as shown in Figure 9,. inasmuch as the cammed-face nose of the lug 4,0. 14 will ride over the correspondingly cammedface end'ofj the detent 26', pushing it downward slightly against the tension of the spring 80 un-- til such time as the end of the lug T4 has passed beyond the detent 26 whereupon the spring 811 4 g williforce it upwardly into the locking position of Figure 9.

The lock casing 76 of Figures 7 to 10 inclusive has slots 88' in its flanges whereby its position may besomewhat varied with regard to the supporting bolts 90T'and 'withregard to the. inside \vaIIQQZ ofthe receptacle. andQof course, correspondingly with, regard to the door 64 and the.- locking lug 14.. whereby suitable relative adjust-- ment of these parts may be readily and. simply provided. 7 r I The extension 46a of the rod 46. and the cam 50 is tapered as shown in Figures 8 and 9,]and. has a further extension 9'4 mounted. thereon by means of a removable pin 96 whereby this, ex.- 60, tension. 94 may be readilyv removed and replaced by one either longer or shorter, thereby adapting the locking device for housings 92 of different widths or dimensions. The. outer end of, the rod 94 is held in one or more supporting brackets 98v 5 asrshownr g i It will be seen that herein is provided an ab-' solutely safe, yet simple and efficient delivery receptacle which will enable the housewife to,-

be. assured that milk, groceries, etc,, will be de- 7 0,-;

livered, and regardless of the time of delivery, will be safe against tampering-or theft, it being further understood that the latch 42 on the in-' .ner door will prevent any pushing of this door open from the outside even though the. outer door be opened by some unauthorized person before the arrival of the milk man or other delivery person.- Obviously, the handle 66 i on the outer door is merely for the purpose of operating the same. a

' Then again, after the material has be'endeposited in the receptacle, the outer dooris automatically locked and is only released after the housewife or some other person on the inside of the building opens, the inner door, and even then, the outer door cannot be opened until the inner door has been again ,closed, thereby guarding against any unauthorized access by a sneak thief or the like who might,,knowing, the conditions, otherwise wait outside the outer door until hearing the inner door open and then quickly open the outer door in time to either snatch some of the contents or perhaps do bodily harm to the person inside the building.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: I

1. A locking means for two cooperating doors, comprising a casing, a detent for one door mounted for vertical sliding movement in the casing, a spring for normally impellingthe detent upwardly, a bar having a cam surface pivotally mounted on the detent, and means for lowering the detent comprising a cooperating cammed rod slidably mounted in the casing for operating contact with the other door.

2. A locking means for two cooperating doors, comprising a casing, a detent for one door mounted for vertical sliding movement in the casing, a spring for normally impelling the detent upwardly, a bar having a cam surface pivotally mounted on the detent, and means for lowering the detent comprising a cooperating cammed rod slidably mounted in the casing for operating contact with the other door, said cammed rod projecting beyond the lock casing, and spring means for normally forcing said cammed rod into a position beyond the normal closed position of the second door, and a plate slidably mounted in the casing adjacent the upper end of the detent, said plate having an opening therein for passage of the nose of the detent therethrough when the detent is not in lowered position. v

3. A locking means for two cooperating doors, comprising a casing, a detent for one door mounted for vertical sliding movement in the casing, a spring for normally impelling the detent upwardly, a bar having a cam surface pivotally mounted on the detent, and means for lowering the detent comprising a cooperating cammed rod slidably mounted in the casing for operating contact with the other door, said cammed rod projecting beyond the lock casing, and spring means for normally forcing said cammed rod into a position beyond the normal closed position of the second door, and a plate slidably mounted in the casing adjacent the upper end of the detent, said plate having an opening therein for passage of the nose of the detent therethrough, and a spring connected to the plate constantly impelling the same into projected position.

4. A safety delivery receptacle comprising a housing, inner and outer doors, locking means for the outer door comprising a keeper mounted on the inner face of the outer door, a lock casing mounted .on the inner face of the wall of the receptacle, and a slidable detent positioned in the lock casing adapted to cooperate with the keeper on the outer door, a pivoting plate on the keeper and a slidable plate in the lock casing adjacent the pivoting plate and mounted for cooperation therewith, the slidable plate having an opening therein for upward passage of the detenttherethrough upon rearwardmovement of the slidable plate. r

:5. A safety delivery receptacle comprising a housing, inner and'outer doors, locking means for the outer door comprising a keeper mounted on the inner face of the outer door, a lock casing mounted on the inner face of the wall of the receptacle, and a slidable L shaped detent positioned in the lock casing adapted to cooperate with the keeper on the outer door, a pivoting plate on the keeper and a slidable plate in the lock casing adjacent the pivoting plate and mounted for cooperation therewith, the slidable plate having an opening therein for upward passage of the detent therethrough upon rearward movement of the slidable plate when contacted by the pivoting plate, and spring means on both the slidable and pivoting plates, the spring on the pivoting plate being of a greater tension than the spring on the slidable plate, together with a spring attached to the detent for normally forcing the same upwardly through the opening in the slidable plate and into the keeper on the outer door upon closing of the outer door, and a bar having a cam surface pivotally mounted on the inner end of the detent, and means abuttin the inner door co-acting with said bar for lowering the detent upon closing of the inner door. 6. A safety delivery receptacle comprising a housing, inner and outer doors, locking means for the outer door comprising a keeper mounted on the inner face of the outer door, a lock casing mounted on the inner face of the wall of the receptacle, and a slidable L shaped detent positioned in the lock casing adapted to cooperate with the keeper on the outer door, a pivoting plate on the keeper and a slidable plate in the lock casing adjacent the pivoting plate and mounted for cooperation therewith, the slidable plate having an opening therein for upward passage of the detent therethrough upon reward movement of the slidable plate when contacted by the pivoting plate, and spring means on both the slidable and pivoting plates, the spring on the pivoting plate being of a greater tension than the spring on the slidable plate, together with a spring attached to the detent for normally forcing the same upwardly through the opening in the slidable plate and into the keeper on the outer door upon closing of the outer door, and a bar having a cam surface pivotally mounted on the inner end of the detent and means abutting the inner door for lowering the detent upon closing of the inner door, said means comprising a rod having a cammed nose sildably mounted in the lock casing, whereby closing of the door will actuate the bar having a cam surface.

'7. A safety delivery receptacle comprising a housing, inner and outer doors, locking means for the outer door comprising a keeper mounted on the inner face of the outer door, a lock mounted on the inner face of the wall of the receptacle, and a slidable L shaped detent positioned; in the lock casing. adapted to. cooperate with. the keeper one the outer door, a. pivoting plate on the:'keeper-and a slidable plate in the lock casing; adjacent the pivoting plate and mounted for cooperation therewith, the slidable plate having anopening therein. for upward passage of the detent. therethrough uporrrearward movement of the slidable plate when contacted by the pivoting plate, and. spring means: on both the slidable and pivoting plates, the spring on the pivoting; plate being. of a greater tension than the spring on the slidable plate, together with a spring attached. to the detent for normally forcing the same: upwardly through the opening imthe slidable plate and into the keeper on the outer door upon closing of the: outer door, and a bar having a cam surface pivotally mounted on theinner end of the detent, a spring for normally maintaining. the bar in vertioalnposition and means abutting the inner door for lowering the detent upon closing of the inner door, said means comprising a rod having a cammed nose slidably mounted in the lock casing, and a spring connected to the. rod for normally impelling the same into projected position against the inner face: of the inner door, whereby a closing of the inner door actuates the cammed nose of the rod against the cam surface of the bar pivotally mounted on the inner end of the detent.

JOHN MAJORS'. 

